Perfecting or multicolor offset printing press



y 4, 1957 D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086

PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed June 14, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I I 1 "6 \M ,5 h u h I N vam-o DONALD A Put.

D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086

PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFF SET PRINTING PRESS July 4, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 14, 1966 INVENTOR DONALD A. PULLEN D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086

PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING E S July 4,' 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1966 INVENTOR DONALD A. PULLEN D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086

PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS July 4, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1966 INVENTOQ DONALD A. PULLEN D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086

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PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed June 14, 1966 8 SheetsSheet 6 GEAR SETTINGS FOR move l GEAR SETTINGS FOR MODE 2 [NVENTOR DONALD A. PULLEN 3,329,086 PERFEG'IING 0R MULTI/COLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed June 14, 1966 Y D. A. PULLEN July 4, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 R m. TL u WP r-.A D m m D 5 41/4, muwz, VJQLQM V Ar'rvs.

D. A. PULLEN 3,329,086 PERFECTING OR MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS July 4, 1967 Filed June 14, 1966 8 Sheets-$heet 8 FIXED FRAME RAME PIVOTS AWAY FOR OFF;

MODE 2.

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United States Patent 3,329,086 PERFECTING 0R MULTICOLOR OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Donald A. Pullen, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Miehle-Goss- Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 14, 1966, Ser. No. 562,057 10 Claims. (Cl. 101-177) This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 395,437, filed Sept. 10, 1964, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to web printing presses and more particularly to an offset press capable of both multicolor and perfected single color printing.

It is an object of the invention to provide an offset press which is of simple and inexpensive construction but which provides a high degree of flexibility, permitting single color printing simultaneously on both sides of a web or multicolor printing on one side only and which is easily switched from one mode of operation to the other. It is a related object to provide a cylinder switching and positioning arrangement which provides positive locking in each running position. In this connection it is an object to provide an offset press in which the cylinders may be set or adjusted with a high degree of precision and in which the set-tings are maintained so that little or no readjustment is necessary when switching between modes. It is an object of the invention in one of its aspects to provide a printing press in which the cylinders are bodily adjustable between a plurality of operating positions and in which novel means are provided for insuring adjusting movement at the ends of a given cylinder is precisely the same in both direction and amount.

It is still another object to provide a printing press in which a cylinder is movable selectively into running engagement with a pair of companion cylinders depending upon the selected mode of operation and having automatic means for effecting throw-off midway in the path of movement.

It is another object to provide a press capable of multicolor and perfected printing which utilizes a frame structure similar to that used in a conventional oifest press but which is capable of producing offest multicolor printing at high speed. It is a related object to provide an offset printing press useful for perfected printing but which includes provision for low cost later modification for multicolor Work when the need arises.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic end view of an offset printing press unit embodying the present invention showing the blanket cylinders in printing engagement;

FIG. la is a fragmentary view of the linkage employed in positioning the blanket cylinders and with the positions of the parts corresponding to the condition of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic end view with the blanket cylinders in a mid or throw-off position out of contact with the cooperating cylinders;

FIG. 2a shows the blanket cylinder positioning mechanism in the throw-off position corresponding to FIG. 2; FIG. 2b is a fragmentary section taken along line 2b2b in FIG. 20;

FIG. 3 is an end view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the blanket cylinders in the alternative mode of operation in running contact with the impression cylinder;

FIG. 3a shows the positioning mechanism in a setting corresponding to FIG. 3; i

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 44 in FIG. 1a showing a typical eccentric sleeve for journaling one end of a blanket cylinder;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 55 in FIG. 1a showing the hollow cross shaft construction;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic end view of a blanket cylinder showing the shift of center of the blanket cylinder.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing in perspective the relation of the driving gears in the first and second modes of operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an alternative form of the invention.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the illustrated embodiments but intend, on the contrary, to cover the Various alternative and equivalent constructions included with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an offset press employing the present invention includes a frame 10 mounting a first plate cylinder 11 carrying a set of thin printing plates, the plates themselves not being shown. Typical plate mounting and registering mechanism may be found in the prior art, for example, as represented by Peabody et al. US. Patent No. 3,095,811. For the purpose of applying an ink film to the plate cylinder 11, an ink fountain indicated diagrammatically at 12 is provided having a series of ink transfer rollers and cylinders 13 terminating in a pair of ink form rollers 14 which are in rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder.

A portion of the rollers may be vibrated if desired. To provide the necessary plate dampening during clockwise rotation of the cylinder 11, a water fountain 15 is used having a transfer roller 16 and water form roller 17. During counterclockwise rotation this function is taken care of by a water fountain 20 having a transfer roller 21 and water form roller 22. The means for applying the ink and water to the plate cylinder do not per se form a part of the present invention. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the ink film adheres to the printing areas while the water film wets the non-printing areas, the water and ink being constantly renewed during normal running of the press.

The opposite half of the press unit is substantially a mirror image of the first half and provides plate cylinder 11a with its ink and water supply, the parts being identified by corresponding reference numerals plus subscript a. The plate cylinder 11a need not have a second water fountain since, as will be covered below, it is not necessary for the cylinder to reverse rotation during the two separate modes of operation of the press.

For the purpose of transferring or offsetting the images from the plate cylinders onto a web of paper 30 traveling through the press, blanket cylinders 31, 32 are placed in contact with one another and in rolling engagement with the plate cylinders 11, 11a, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, mounting means are provided for moving a portion of the cylinders including at least one distance between a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for printing on opposite sides of a web 30 running between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and a common impression cylinder for applying successive ink impressions to one side of a web trained about the impression cylinder. In this way there is brought about a first mode of printing in which printing occurs simultaneously on both sides of the web, commonly referred to perfected printing and a second mode in which impressions are applied to one side of the web in succession as required for multicolored printing, with automatic throwoif of the blanket cylinders in the intermediate position. Thus I provide an impression cylinder 33 closely spaced with respect to the cylinders 31, 32 and centered with respect to the cusp 34 between them. When the press is operated in its second mode, i.e., with the blanket cylinders in running engagement with the impression cylinder, the web, indicated at 35, is wrapped around the impression cylinder as shown.

For the purpose of bodily positioning the blanket cylinders, each cylinder is journaled in a pair of eccentric sleeves with linkages being provided on each side of the press for rocking the sleeves into engagement with stops accurately defining a desired angular position. Since similar linkage is used on each side of the press, it will suffice to consider in detail only the linkage on one side as shown in FIG. 1a.

Considering first the eccentric sleeves, the sleeve 40 has a cylindrical outside surface 41 which mates with an opening formed in the press frame and an inside surface 42 supporting an antifriction bearing which journal a stub shaft 43 (FIG. 4) at the end of the blanket cylinder. The sleeve is held captive against endwise movement by a retainer 44 which engages an outer flange 45 of the sleeve and which is secured to the frame by screws 46.

For the purpose of locating the sleeve 40 in a precise position when it is rotated clockwise in its first mode of operation, a stop 50 is provided which is adjustable in a bracket 51 secured to the press frame and which is mounted in the path of movement of a stop abutment 52 on the sleeve. Similarly, for stopping the sleeve in a precise position when it is rotated counterclockwise for the second mode of operation, a stop 55 is provided in the same bracket 51 in the path of movement of an abutment 57 which forms part of the sleeve.

In order to rock the sleeve either clockwise or counterclockwise from a mid-position, the sleeve is provided with a radially extending arm 58 having a bore parallel to the cylinder axis and pinned by a pin 59, to the linkage to be described. To support the second blanket cylinder 32, a sleeve construction is employed which is the mirror image of that just described with corresponding parts being indicated by corresponding reference numerals plus subscript a.

For the purpose of simultaneously rocking the sleeves 40, 40a to equal degree but in opposite directions, a linkage is provided generally indicated at 60 including toggles which move into dead center positions at the time that the respective stops are engaged to lock the sleeves in bottomed positions against the stops. Thus, referring to FIG. 2a, the linkage includes a first or input arm 61 and a second or operating arm 62 which are coupled together, as will be described, and which move in unison with respect to a boss 63 on the press frame. Fastened to the left-hand end of the arm 62 by a pin 64 is an upwardly extending link 65 which is of curved or dog leg shape having a clearance space 66 along its right-hand side. Secured to the upper end of the link 65 by pin 67 is a link 70 having a pivot connection 71 to which is secured a second link 72. The link 72 is pinned at its other end to the arm 58 on the sleeve 40. The link 70 is similarly secured to the arm 58a of the sleeve 40a. It is apparent, then, that when the arm 62 is rotated counterclockwise, drawing the vertically extending link 65 to its lowermost position, shown in FIG. 1a, both of the sleeves are rotated inwardly until bottoming occurs between the stops 50, 52 at the left-hand sleeve and 50a, 52a at the righthand sleeve. Because of the eccentricity of the sleeve, such rotation produces bodily inward rocking movement of the two blanket cylinders so that the axis of the blanket cylinder 31 is at a point 75 and the axis of the blanket cylinder 32 is at a point 750. With the vertical link 65 fully lowered, as shown in FIG. 1a, the ends of the link indicated at 64, 67, are in alinement with axis of rotation 76 of the arm 62 forming a toggle on center. This toggling, with its high mechanical advantage, serves to lock the stops 50, 52 and 50a, 52a firmly clamped together thereby to position the blanket cylinders 31, 32 in the FIG. 1 position with just the right amount of pressure exerted between them and without necessity for any touchup adjustment. For preventing the link 65 from swinging beyond the dead center position, an adjustable stop 81 is provided on the boss 63 in the path of movement of a stop surface 82 on the arm 62. A similar stop 83 cooperating with stop surface 84 limits the rotation of the arm in the opposite direction as will be seen.

Prior to considering the movement of the linkage to the throw-off position and to the second mode of operation beyond throw off, consideration may be given to the means for applying torque to the operating arm 62 and the corresponding arm 62b at the opposite side of the press. In accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, a hollow cross member or shaft is provided which extends from one side to the other of the press frame and is connected at its center to an input shaft inside of it. The operating shaft is coupled at its outer end to a fluid actuator. Referring to FIG. 5, a hollow tube is journalled at each end in the press frames, being connected at its left-hand end to the arm 62 by a key 91 and at its right-hand end to the arm 62b by key 92. Fitting snugly in the cross shaft 90 is an input shaft 93 which is connected at its inner end to the mid-point of the hollow shaft 90 by a welded plug 94 or other suitable means.

For rocking the input shaft 93, the input arm 61, previously referred to, is connected to the shaft by a key 96 and by a pin 97 to a fluid actuator. The fluid actuator 100 (FIG. 1a) has a plunger 101 and is attached at its rear end to a pivot 102 on a bracket 103 which is secured to the press frame.

For the purpose of enabling use of a simple, double acting actuator 100 to rock the input shaft 93 fully clockwise or counterclockwise from a mid-position to either operating position, means are provided for changing the point of connection of the pivot pin 97 with respect to the input arm 61. More specifically, means are provided for shifting the pivot pin 97 from one side to the other of the axis of rotation 76, so that when the pin is in one extreme position a counterclockwise torque is applied to the arm 61 and when the pin is in its opposite end position, clockwise torque is applied. In the present instance this shift is accomplished by providing in the arm 61 a jackscrew 105 which is threaded transversely in the pivot pin 97 and which occupies a window 106 formed in the arm. The jackscrew 105 is maintained captive in the crank and is provided at its lower end with a square head 107 which may be engaged by a suitable turning tool. It will be apparent, therefore, that by simply rotating the end 107 of the jackscrew the pin 97 may be moved from one end to the other of the window opening 106, thus shifting the center of application of force from one side of the crank axis 76 to the other.

With the input shaft 93 connected to the center of the torque tube 90, it will be apparent that any torsional deflection which takes place in the torque shaft is applied evenly to the linkages at the opposite sides of the press, neither side being favored, even though only a single actuator 100 and input arm 61 are used.

When it is desired to move the blanket cylinders 31, 32 from running engagement as shown in FIGS. 1, 1a to the central or throw-01f position graphically illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2a, pressure is applied to retract the actuator, causing clockwise rotation of the crank 62 followed by separation at the stops and with the vertical link 65 being moved up to its mid-position, as illustrated in FIG. 2a. The center of the blanket cylinders move from their original positions 75, 75a to the new positions 108, 108a. Under such conditions the blanket cylinders not only swing bodily away from one another but also move out of contact with their respective plate cylinders. This re sults from the fact that the radius of swing, which is determined by the eccentricity of the eccentric sleeves, is relatively short and about a center which is spaced substantially from the plate cylinder axis. As illustrated in FIG. 6, while the movement of the blanket cylinders occurs peripherally about the corresponding plate cylinders, it has a component of outward movement. Thus, even though the blanket cylinders are swung through a small total distance, this is sufficient to create an outward throwoff movement, in a practical case, on the order of 0.04 inch. Such movement not only relieves the pressure between the blanket cylinders and the plate cylinders but effectively isolates the blanket cylinders so that the plates and blankets may be replaced by the press operator.

So as to insure equal movement of the eccentric sleeves for a given movement of the arm 65, especially when moving into the throw-off position, the pin 71 is preferably guided with respect to the press frame. This is simply accomplished by a guide block 109 swivelling on the pin 71 (see FIG 2b) and sliding in a vertical groove 109a in the press frame.

To advance the blanket cylinders beyond the throwoff condition and into the second operating mode where the blanket cylinders contact the impression cylinder 33 as well as their respective plate cylinders, the jackscrew 105 is rotated, shifting the connecting pin 97 from its upper position to its lower position. Following this, application of expanding pressure in the actuator 100 extends the plunger 101 and rocks the arms 61, 62 clockwise, moving the link 65 into the maximum upraised position as shown in FIG. 3a. In this position the links 70,72 are in alinement with one another in a dead center toggle position, accompanied by bottoming at stops 55, 57 and 55a, 57a thereby to precisely determine the operating position of the eccentric sleeves 40, 40a which mount the blanket cylinders, after shifting the centers to new running positions. Because of the presence of plural stops in the same linkage, with the likelihood that in spite of careful adjustment, the stops may bottom at different times, a stiff spring 85 is interposed in the link 72 and the stops are adjusted so that the stops on the sleeves engage first. The guide block 109 preferably has sufiicient lateral play so that the upper end of the link 65 is free to swing to the right or left as necessary to assume an equilibrium position so that only one spring suflices for the two links 70, 72. The take-up spring 85 not only insures bottoming at the stops but prevents excess compressive force from being set up in the links 70, 72 by reason of the toggle action. Stops 83, 84 on the arm 62 prevent the link 65 from moving the toggle beyond dead center. The shift of center to the blanket cylinder 31 from position 108 to a new position 109 is illustrated in FIG. 6. With the blanket cylinders each engaging the impression cylinder 33, an inked image in two different colors may be applied to one side of a web 35 trained about the impression cylinder 33.

For reversing the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 11 and blanket cylinder 31 required for operation in the second mode, while maintaining plate cylinder 11a and blanket cylinder 32 turning in the original direction, a shift must be made in the gearing of these cylinders. While this is a matter well within the skill of the art, nevertheless, for the sake of completeness of disclosure, gear settings for the two mode have been shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. In these figures, the gears associated with the respective cylinders are designated by the same reference numeral with the addition of subscript g. Thus the input gear 110, which is rotated by angle gearing from a drive shaft, meshes with a gear lltlg at the end of the plate cylinder 11a which, in turn, meshes with gear 32g at the end of the blanket clinder 32. These gears normally rotate in only one direction. The gear 32g meshes with gear 31g which, in turn,.drives gear 11g at the end of the second plate cylinder. Since the gears are preferably of the helical type having either a rightor left-hand pitch, the designations R and L have been applied to show the hand of the pitch. In mode 1 operation (shown in FIG. 7), gears 33g-1 and 33g-2, both of which are splined to the shaft of cylinder 33, are disengaged and the impression cylinder does not rotate.

When converting to mode 2 operation (shown in FIG. 8) the gear 31g is slid endwise on its shaft out of engagement with gear 32g and into engagement with gear 33g-2. The companion gear 33g1 is slid on its shaft into mesh with the gear 32g. Thus, plate cylinder 11a and blanket cylinder 32 which are in constant engagement with the input gear always rotate in the same direction in both modes whereas, since the drive to the blanket cylinder 31 is made through direction-changing gearing, rather than direct, the blanket cylinder 31 and plate cylinder 11 are reversed in direction. When plate cylinder 11 turns in the reverse direction, the water fountain 20 is employed in lieu of the water fountain 15-.

In accordance with one of the more detailed aspects of the present invention, an additional plate cylinder and blanket cylinder may be provided for engaging the impression cylinder 33 to permit three-color printing on one side of the web. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a plate cylinder is provided, having a water fountain roller 121, a water transfer roller 122 and a water form roller 123. These rollers dampen the plate for the direction of rotation already referred to. However, if the web is run around the impression cylinder 33 as shown at 35a, then rotations will be reversed and then the dampening system indicated by rollers 124, 125, 126 would be used. Interposed between the plate cylinder 120 and the impression cylinder 33 is a third blanket cylinder 127. No gears have been shown in the drawings for driving the plate cylinder 120 and blanket cylinder 127, but such gearlng is a matter well within the skill of the art.

It will be apparent in view of the above description that an offset unit has been provided having a high degree of flexibility, permitting simultaneous single color printing on both sides of a web or multicolor printing on one side only and capable of being shifted from one mode of printing to the other within a few minutes time and with the blanket cylinders being positioned, in each of the modes, with such a high degree of accuracy that little or no readjustment or touchup adjustment of the impression is required. Because of the novel interconnection between the linkages on both sides of the press, a single actuator suflices to accomplish the switchover, moving the eccentric sleeves precisely the same amount on both sides. In spite of the versatility which the arrangement provides, the press is inherently economical and may be produced at a substantially lower cost than the usual color press. While the invention has been described as an arrangement for enabling two modes of operation of an offset press, the present teachings are not necessarily limited thereto but would be useful wherever it is desired to effect transfer in a system employing a first and second cylinder with the second cylinder (e.g. cylinder 31) being selectively switchable into engagement with third and fourth cylinders, symmetrically positioned on each side of a plane containing the first two cylinders and with the second cylinder being isolated, or thrown off, in its mid-position.

While two possible web leads have been shown in the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that still other web leads are possible. Referring, for example, to FIG. 1 after the web 30 is printed on both sides by the blanket cylinders 31, 32, the web may be led about the impression cylinder 33 for addition of spot color on one side of the web by the cylinder 127 (shown in FIG. 3). Moreover, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that if desired the impression cylinder 33 in FIG. 1 may be separately powered when the press is operating in its perfecting mode making it possible to print one side of a completely separate web simultaneously with the printing of the web 30. Still other combinations are possible employing webs which have been preprinted in one or more colors on either one or both sides.

While the invention has been described above in connection with a preferred embodiment, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art that the same effect can be achieved by bodily movement of only one of the two blanket cylinders accompanied by bodily movement of the added impression cylinder. Thus, referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a press 10' having plate cylinders 11 and 11a with associated blanket cylinders 31, 32 and impression cylinder 33'. Means are provided, just as in the preceding embodiment, for moving the blanket cylinder 31 bodily through a short arc of movement (FIG. 6). In addition means are provided for moving the impression cylinder vertically through a short distance. For the sake of simplicity, the means for moving the impression cylinder 33' have been omitted from FIG. 9 and it will be understood that any conventional adjusting means may be employed for this purpose.

As shown in full lines in FIG. 9, operation in the first mode is achieved with the web 30' printed on both sides by the blanket cylinders 31', 32. To achieve operation in the second mode i.e. for two color printing on the same side of the web, the web 35' is passed around the impression cylinder 33, and the blanket cylinder 31' and impression cylinder 33 are moved from their solid line to their dot-dash line positions.

It will be understood that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the cylinders are driven in the same direction and by the same means as described in connection with the preferred embodiment in the respective operating modes.

It is of interest to note in the present construction (see FIG. 1) that the cylinders 31, 32, and 33 form a common cusp 34 and are symmetrical with respect to the cusp, with the axis of plate cylinder 11 in alinement with the blanket cylinder 31 and the cusp. It follows from this that if cylinders 11, 31 are considered to be first and second cylinders and the cylinders 32, 33 are considered to be third and fourth in the combination, the third and fourth cylinders lie symmetrically on opposite sides of the imaginary plane which contains the axes of the first and second cylinders. Such a symmetrical and compact arrangement of the four cylinders enables the cylinder 31, with only minor movement of its eccentric sleeves, to operate in two well defined modes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a web fed oifset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, means for bodily swinging each of the blanket cylinders through a short radius are between a first position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for applying an inked image on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying inked images successively to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, and means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective modes of operation.

2. In a ,web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp-formed by the blanket cylinders, switching means for bodily moving each of the blanket cylinders through an are between (a) a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for applying an inked impression on the opposite sides of a web fed between them, (b) a midposition in which the blanket cylinders are displaced both arcuately and radially with respect to their associated plate cylinders into a throw-off position in which the blanket cylinders are isolated from their associated cylinders and (c) a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective end positions, and means including an actuator for simultaneously operating the switching means.

3. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinders, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, means for bodily swinging each of the blanket cylinders through a short arc from a first end position in which the blanket cylinders are in engagement with one another for applying an inked impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders both engage the impression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, the arc of movement having a radius of curvature which is a small fraction of the distance between the axes of the blanket and plate cylinders so that when each blanket cylinder is moved along its are from one end position to the other it traverses a central position in 'which the blanket cylinder is out of contact with its associated plate cylinder permitting removal of the plates from the latter, and means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective end positions.

4. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders but normally out of contact with the latter, each of said blanket cylinders being journaled in an eccentric sleeve at its ends so that the cylinders are transported through short arcuate paths of movement as the sleeves are rocked in one direction or the other, said paths of movement being defined by (a) a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for applying an inked impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them, (b) a mid position in which the blanket cylinders are out of contact with their associated plate cylinders for changing plates on the latter and (c) a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective positions, means for coupling together for precise movement in unison with one another the sleeves at the opposite ends of a given blanket cylinder,

and means including stops on the sleeves for defining the said end positions.

5.' In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinder laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, first and second blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, means for bodily moving' each blanket cylinder transaxially through a path of movement between a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with each other for applying an inked impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with the imression cylinder for applying inked impressions successively to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, and a third blanket cylinder having an associated plate cylinder including means for applying ink for engaging the impression cylinder when the first and second blanket cylinders occupy their first or second end positions.

6. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders but normally out of contact with the latter, each of said blanket cylinders being journaled in an eccentric sleeve at its ends, adjustable stops for defining end positions for the sleeves as they are rocked in one direction or the other, operating linkage connected to the sleeves for rocking them simultaneously, said linkage including toggles movable into dead center position as the sleeves approach their stops for maintaining the sleeves positively positioned against the stops, said stops being positioned to define a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective cylinders and with each other for applying an inked impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with theimpression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, and means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective end positions.

7. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in the respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, each of said blanket cylinders being journaled in an eccentric sleeve at its ends, adjustable stops for defining end positions for the sleeves as they are rocked in one direction or the other, operating linkage connected to the sleeves for rocking them simultaneously, said linkage including first and second toggles arranged for move ment into dead center position as the sleeves approach the stops at the end positions for locking of the sleeves in the respective end positions, said stops being positioned to define a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate clinders and with each other for applying an ink impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, and means for driving the cylinders with the provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective end positons, at least one of said toggles including a stiff spring for taking up any disparity in the stop adjustments and for limiting the force applied at the stops.

8. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinders, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impres sion cylinder centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, each of said blanket cylinders being journaled in an eccentric sleeve at its ends so that the cylinders are bodily transported through short arcuate paths of movement as the sleeves are rocked in one direction or the other, stops for said sleeves defining a first end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for applying an ink impression on opposite sides of a web fed between them and a second end position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying successive inked impressions to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in one of the end positions, linkage on each side of the press coupled to the sleeves for rotating the same between the stops, a cross shaft extending the width of the press and coupled to the respective linkages at its ends, and an operating member having its inner end coupled to the center of the cross shaft so that when torque is applied to the outer end of the operating member the linkages are moved in unison with one another.

9. In a web fed printing press capable of first and second modes of operation, the combination comprising a frame, 'first and second cooperating cylinders in said frame, third and fourth cylinders in said frame closely spaced with respect to the second cylinder and to each other and symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a plane containing the axes of the first and second cylinders, said second cylinder being journaled in eccentric sleeves mounted in the frame for rocking movement in opposite directions from a central position, means for coupling said sleeves together for rocking movement in unison with one another, the sleeves supporting the second cylinder being so spaced with respect to the first cylinder that when the sleeves are in their central position the second cylinder is isolated from the other cylinders, said eccentric sleeves being so phased that when the sleeves are rotated in one direction from the central position the second cylinder engages the first and third cylinders and when the sleeves are rotated in the opposite direction from the central position the second cylinder engages the first and fourth cylinders.

10. In a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor and single color perfected printing, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of plate cylinders laterally spaced in the frame for mounting printing plates thereon, means for applying films of ink to the plates, a pair of blanket cylinders in rolling contact with the plates on the respective plate cylinder, said blanket cylinders being arranged closely adjacent one another, an impression cylinder generally centered with respect to the cusp formed by the blanket cylinders, means for bodily moving a portion of the cylinders including arcuate movement of at least one of the blanket cylinders through a short distance between (a) a first printing position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with each other for applying an inked image on opposite sides of a web fed between them and (b) a second printing position in which the blanket cylinders make contact with their respective plate cylinders and with the impression cylinder for applying inked images successively to one side of a web fed about the impression cylinder, and (c) a third position in which the said blanket cylinder is isolated from the associated plate cylinder and means for driving the cylinders with provision for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the blanket cylinders and its cooperating plate cylinder in the respective modes of operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,573 8/1936 Quick et al 101221 2,248,926 7/1941 Meisel 10l220 2,444,547 7/ 1948 Whitehead 10l22.1 3,072,050 1/1963 Wolff 101-177 10 3,196,786 7/1965 Hornberger et a1. 101-247 X ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

H. P. EWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WEB FED OFFSET PRINTING PRESS UNIT FOR MULTICOLOR AND SINGLE COLOR PERFECTED PRINTING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FRAME, A PAIR OF PLATE CYLINDERS LATERALLY SPACED IN THE FRAME FOR MOUNTING PRINTING PLATES THEREON, MEANS FOR APPLYING FILMS OF INK TO THE PLATES, A PAIR OF BLANKET CYLINDERS IN RESPECTIVE ROLLING CONTACT WITH THE PLATES ON THE PLATE CYLINDER, SAID BLANKET CYLINDERS BEING ARRANGED CLOSELY ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER, AN IMPRESSION CYLINDER CENTERED WITH RESPECT TO THE CUSP FORMED BY THE BLANKET CYLINDERS, MEANS FOR BODILY SWINGING EACH OF THE BLANKET CYLINDERS THROUGH A SHORT RADIUS ARC BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE BLANKET CYLINDERS MAKE CONTACT WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE PLATE CYLINDERS AND WITH EACH OTHER FOR APPLYING AN INKED IMAGE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WEB FED BETWEEN THEM AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE BLANKET CYLINDERS MAKE CONTACT WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE PLATE CYLINDERS AND WITH THE IMPRESSION CYLINDER FOR APPLYING INKED IMAGES SUCCESSIVELY TO ONE SIDE OF A WEB FED ABOUT THE IMPRESSION CYLINDER, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING THE CYLINDERS WITH PROVISION FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF ONE OF THE BLANKET CYLINDERS AND ITS COOPERATING PLATE CYLINDER IN THE RESPECTIVE MODES OF OPERATION. 